Tom Hanks presents in Uncommon Types (Some Stories), light and captivating characters. There is no tale in which you, no matter how brief, do not grow fond of the characters Hanks has created. The thread that connects all the stories is certainly the typewriters, which sometimes hold great importance, sometimes are merely “remembered,” but are always there for the reader.
The writing of Tom Hanks is surprisingly light, fluid, and never tiresome. In his first book, Hanks brings us situations that for the most part could be lived by us 
ourselves and some of them are extremely similar to situations from our past, mine especially. Who doesn’t remember the delightful evenings of past Christmases? Or who hasn’t had a crush on a friend from their group?
In other situations, for example that of Sue Glieber, we can associate the suffering of her early career with any successful one, whether booming or not. After all, every beginning is very difficult for anyone who wants something good and comforting in their future. So, by analogy, we are all Sue Glieber at the start of her career, experiencing hunger and humiliation, but believing in herself until she finally gains her recognition.
I believe that all the stories in Uncommon Types will awaken memories in all its readers, given Hanks’ skill in transforming the ordinary into something very attractive, 
funny, and emotional.
Do not be misled by the lightness of the stories and think that there is no enjoyment and the so-called “moral of the story,” because it exists in practically all of them. Tom Hanks did not create a work to change concepts or anything of the sort; he created Uncommon Types for our enjoyment and nothing more. But that doesn’t mean that social critiques aren’t there; they are indeed, subtle, not blatant, but they are there.
Another thing that may catch the readers’ attention is a certain similarity of the stories that Tom tells with those he has already portrayed. Obviously, they are not necessarily experiences of an actor that he “threw” into the role for his readers, but I believe that some of them will catch the attention of those who have been following his acting career, just as I do.